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Side Effects and Risks
Massage therapy appears to have few serious risks if appropriate cautions are followed. A very small number of serious injuries have been reported, and they appear to have occurred mostly because cautions were not followed or a massage was given by a person who was not properly trained.
Health care providers recommend that patients not have massage therapy if they have one or more of the following conditions:
- Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs)
- A bleeding disorder or taking blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin
- Damaged blood vessels
- Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture, or cancer
- A fever
Any of the following in an area that would be massaged:
- An open or healing wound
- A tumor
- Damaged nerves
- An infection or acute inflammation
- Inflammation from radiation treatment
If you have one or more of the following conditions, be sure to consult your health care provider before having massage:
- Pregnancy
- Cancer
- Fragile skin, as from diabetes or a healing scar
- Heart problems
- Dermatomyositis, a disease of the connective tissue
- A history of physical abuse
Side effects of massage therapy may include:
- Temporary pain or discomfort
- Bruising
- Swelling
- A sensitivity or allergy to massage oils
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